Illinois Valley news., July 21, 2021, Image 1

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Illinois Valley News
Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 1 Section, Volume LXXXIV No. 28
Published weekly for the residents of the Illinois Valley
Eagles fundraise for a fresh coat
of paint, murals and tables too
(Photo by Laura M. Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
On Monday, July 12 Evergreen Elementary School Principal Jenny Jones is happy about the new
murals painted from the $5,000 raised by the Read-a-thon held last spring.
A big project that Jones wants to
not been redone since the 1980s,” said
Laura Mancuso
complete
is the “outdoor eating and
Jones.
IVN editor
Evergreen Elementary School
Principal Jenny Jones was found
painting murals complete with paint on
her jeans during her summer break.
Along with new office manager
Dawn Hall, secretary Tammie Middel
and her custodial staff, Jones was
painting and organizing the front office
when the Illinois Valley News came
for a visit July 12. The colors will stay
green and white of course to stick with
the Eagle’s logo theme. “The office has
The Evergreen staff is in the
process of giving Evergreen a “well-
needed makeover.”
Currently, Jones is looking at a
new eagle head logo for the school that
will stay green and white.
Thanks to the Read-a-thon the
school had last spring, two murals were
painted for $2,500 each. Jones is hoping
to have three more murals painted with
fundraising dollars and all of them will
be a “theme of the eagles with good
manners, playground rules and more.”
learning space work area” located
outside of the cafeteria. This project is
reliant on community donations and she
is asking for help.
So far, the school has raised money
to spruce up the outside-front of the
cafeteria with cement fill-ins, new paint
and four metal outdoor tables that will
have small plaques on them in memory
of a loved one or donated by a family.
“Families or businesses can donate,”
said Jones.
SEE JONES ON A-8
Water trucks, levy and islands were topics
at 1st live council meeting of the year
Laura Mancuso
IVN editor
The Cave Junction City Council meeting was live and
“in person” at City Hall July 12 for the first time this year.
The meeting was eventful with Grocery Outlet store owner
Ethan Lane appointed and sworn in for councilor position
#1, replacing Dan Bosch.
The mayor and councilors all expressed their gratitude
to Lane for stepping up for his community and gave him a
warm welcome to city council.
Commissioner Darin Fowler encouraged community
members to get out and support local businesses by shopping
since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. He also
reminded folks that the jail and juvenile justice levy renewal
is coming up in November and “hopes renewal information
will be presented well, so voters can make a good decision.”
Councilor Tina Casey Jones said she appreciates the
increased law enforcement presence in the city. She also
informed the council that she has heard from many city
constituents that have concerns about “illegal pot grows,
primarily about water usage for the grows.” Jones would
like to see more community conversations with the sheriff
to learn how law enforcement is responding to the
complaints.
Councilor Jesse Dugas suggested another council
tour of the city water facilities. He also spoke of the many
Facebook comments and complaints about water usage
for illegal cannabis grows. He has encouraged those
with concerns to show up to city council meetings for
discussion of the issue (so far, no one has shown up).
Mayor Meadow Martell commented on the negative
impact from the long line of water trucks waiting for
the bulk water station located in the neighborhood at
Junction Ave. Along with the increase in traffic to the
neighborhood, the water trucks have caused damage
to the street. She said the first priority of the city is to
“move the bulk water station to another location.”
In a follow up email with the Illinois Valley News,
city recorder Rebecca Patton reported, “In response to
the many complaints about the water truck traffic on S.
Junction Avenue I called Josephine County Sheriff and
asked if they would spend some time visiting the water
trucks on S. Junction Avenue.”
SEE CITY ON A-8
(Photo by Laura M. Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Councilor Tina Casey Jones (left), Mayor Meadow Martell, city recorder Rebecca Patton, Councilors
Jean Ann Miles and Jesse Dugas at the first live city council meeting of the year July 12 - right before
swearing in Ethan Lane for council position #1.
Sheriff takes
down more
grows in the
Valley
On Tuesday, July 13,
2021, members of Josephine
Marijuana Enforcement
Team (JMET) in partnership
with Oregon State
Police, Rogue Area Drug
Enforcement (Grants Pass
DPS, OSP, Josephine County
Parole and Probation), Illegal
Marijuana Enforcement
Team (IMET, consisting of
Jackson County SO, Medford
PD), Homeland Security
Investigations and Josephine
County Code Enforcement;
served a search warrant
relating to illegal marijuana
grow operations in the 1300
block of Lakeshore Dr, 6000
block of Takilma Rd and the
300 block of Merlot Dr.
During the execution
of the search warrant, 27,696
illegal marijuana plants
were seized and destroyed.
Additionally, 27 firearms,
multiple water pumps and
generators were seized as
evidence. $255,611 in cash
was also seized. (Side note:
the cash, which is subject to
forfeiture, can only be used
for training and equipment,
not personnel.)
Zacharea Jafarzadeh,
30, and Woodrow Benear,
32, were arrested and lodged
in the Josephine County Jail
for possession, manufacture,
and unlawful delivery of
marijuana. Additionally, 11
subjects were detained due
to safety concerns. At the
time of this press release, the
investigation is ongoing, and
no further details are being
released.
Citizens speak
out during
commissioners
meeting
CJ Schatza
IVN copy editor
The lifting of pandemic restrictions by the Oregon
state government has allowed the Josephine County Board
of Commissioners to return to in-person meetings the
last few weeks, but a well-attended auditorium brought
the biggest return to normalcy as more citizens got up to
speak at the July 14 business session than at any session
in months.
It had been so long since more than a handful
of citizens showed up to speak during requests and
comments from citizens that Board Chairperson Dan
DeYoung felt the need to go over the rules of public
comments, including that disorderly, abusive or disruptive
behavior is not tolerated, and any audience participation
(such as clapping or chanting) is prohibited as well.
O’Brien resident Judy Hinkle kicked off public
comments. She has frequently spoken over Zoom about
unsubstantiated theories that COVID-19 vaccines are
causing death and destruction, and her opinions on the
pandemic were reiterated in-person. Hinkle cast doubt
on the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which
is known to have killed over 600,000 Americans, and
blamed scientists, the media (including a shout-out to the
I.V. News) and even JoCo Public Health for publicizing
research pointing to the safety of vaccines that more than
half of the United States’ population over 12 has received.
Even as new, more infectious variants of COVID-
19 are reportedly causing a spike in infections and
hospitalizations nationwide, Hinkle shared that in her
opinion, the vaccines were “designed specifically to kill
and cripple.” She called on the commissioners to stop “the
genocide,” and said “judgement to come from God” will
be unleashed on those who are complicit in promoting
vaccines. Catherine Austin of the Illinois Valley echoed
many of these same points.
Craig Hinkle, Judy’s husband, presented some
unsubstantiated information of his own, asserting
baselessly that Americans had built up herd immunity to
COVID-19 before the virus even began spreading (Note:
Scientists have posited that over 75% of a population
must be immunized to a virus before herd immunity
comes into play). Craig Hinkle called on the board to pass
an ordinance preventing any future mask mandates or
social distancing from being required.
SEE COUNTY ON A-8